GAME BREAKDOWN
KEY MATCHUP: Miami’s front defensive seven will face a major challenge in taking on Boston College’s running game. RB A.J. Dillon has rushed for an ACC-best 130.4 yards a game with 652 yards total despite missing two games but is considered “questionable” for Friday night’s game. BC went with two backs and got 219 yards combined from junior Ben Glines and true freshman David Bailey in its 38-20 win over Louisville in its last outing on Oct. 13. Miami’s run defense has held opponents to just 105.6 yards a game rushing and held Virginia to 139 in its last game, but the Hurricanes gave up 215 to North Carolina earlier this year. “They don’t change their scheme if Dillon’s not in,” said coach Mark Richt, who caught BC in an early season midweek game and “he’s just trucking people. They were getting after it up front. They’re impressive running the ball.”
DRAFT SLANT
–DT Gerald Willis III has been one of Miami’s most consistent contributors up front. He had 36 total tackles (20 solo) with 13 of them accounting for losses. Willis sat out last year for personal reasons after playing in 2016 following his transfer from Florida. The Associated Press recently named Willis to its midseason All-American team
ROSTER REPORT:
–WR Brian Hightower will be out indefinitely after injuring his ankle in practice. He did not make the trip to Virginia. The freshman has four receptions in his six appearances and scored a touchdown in the opener against LSU.
–RB Lorenzo Lingard, one of the prime members of the true freshman class, injured his knee in practice this week, according to a report in the Miami Herald. Lingard has rushed only 17 times for 136 yards but also has served on the kickoff return team in recent outings with two runbacks for 46 yards.
–QB Cade Weldon has to serve two more games of a four-game suspension.
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